Gerald Laird Joins Gwinnett on Rehab Assignment

Atlanta Braves' catcher Gerald Laird expected to join G-Braves at Coolray Field

By Juan Dorado

August 9, 2013

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - The Gwinnett Braves, in conjunction with the Atlanta Braves, have announced the addition of catcher Gerald Laird to the Gwinnett roster on a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment. Laird, on Atlanta's disabled list since July 26 following a procedure to remove a kidney stone, is expected to begin the assignment on Friday night at Coolray Field as the G-Braves open a four-game series with Lehigh Valley at 7:05 PM.

Laird, 33, was hitting .293 (22-for-75) with five doubles, one home run and 11 RBIs in 28 games prior to being placed on the disabled list. The right-handed hitting catcher has a career .246 batting average (554-for-2,252) with 126 doubles, nine triples, 38 homers and 226 RBIs over parts of 11 seasons with the Texas Rangers (2003-08), Detroit Tigers (2009-10, 2012), St. Louis Cardinals (2011) and Atlanta Braves (2013).

Laird was originally selected in the second round of the 1998 First Year Player Draft by the Oakland Athletics out of La Quinta High School (Westminster, CA). He signed as a draft-and-follow on June 1, 1999 out of Cypress Junior College (Cypress, CA). He made his Major League debut with the Texas Rangers on April 30, 2003.

This rehab stint with Gwinnett will mark Laird's first game with Atlanta's Triple-A affiliate and his first Triple-A experience since 2011, when he played in two rehab games with the Memphis RedBirds of the Pacific Coast League.

Laird will be the 11^th Atlanta Braves' player to spend a rehab stint with Gwinnett this season, joining infielder Paul Janish (left shoulder surgery, April 15-24, May 5-10), first baseman Freddie Freeman (strained right oblique, April 19-21), catcher Brian McCann (right shoulder surgery, May 2-5), outfielder Jason Heyward (appendectomy, May 9-15), right-hander Jordan Walden (right elbow inflammation, May 27), right-hander Luis Ayala (anxiety disorder, May 8-14, June 20-July 4), catcher Evan Gattis (strained right oblique, July 12-13), right-hander Brandon Beachy (right elbow surgery, May 19-28, June 8-14, July 9-24), outfielder B.J. Upton (right thigh strain, July 31-August 2) and Jordan Schafer (right ankle contusion, August 3-current).

The Gwinnett Braves begin an eight-game homestand on Friday night at Coolray Field. Game one of the four-game series against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, begins at 7:05 PM. Left-hander Yohan Flande (7-6, 4.42) will start for the G-Braves, while the IronPigs will counter with right-hander David Buchanan (1-0, 2.57). The radio broadcast will air on WDUN 550 AM and 102.9 FM, while the telecast will air on CSS.

Friday night is "Football Night" at Coolray Field, sponsored by 12Stone Church. Prior to the game, bring your own football and participate in a special game of catch in the outfield! The 20-minute catch starts shortly after the gates open. Former Atlanta Falcons' wide receiver Brian Finneran will throw out the first pitch and sign autographs from 7:30 to 8:30 PM. To purchase tickets, call the Coolray Field Box Office at (678) 277-0340 or visit gwinnettbraves.com.